Wire-stretcher.



R. A. LYERLA.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 191s.

Patented July 8, 1913.

I l e7 ROBERT A. LYERLA, OF SAND RIDGE, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STRETCI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1913.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 754,597.

To all whom 2'75 may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. LYERLA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sand Ridge, in the county of Jackson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends improvements in wire stretchers and relates more particularly to those of the type having a lever for engagement with the post and means carried by said lever for engagement with the wire to be stretched.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a stretcher of this nature which shall be of extremely simple construction, cheap to manufacture, strong, and durable.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel means for engagement with a wire, said means comprising a forked clamping member having serrated edges and a wire engaging hook pivoted between said forks.

/Vith these and other objects in View, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consist-s in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a top plan view of my invention, illustrating the operation thereof, 2 is a perspective view of the wire engaglng means, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lever.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates, generally, the handle member or lever part of my invent-ion and comprises a shank 2 having a notched blade 3 suitably secured to one end thereof for engagement with a post or other support 4. A collar 5 is secured to the shank 2 and has attached to it a chain 6. This chain is connected by means of an eye-bolt 7 and yoke 8 to a forked clamping member, generally designated 9. It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 2, that the eye-bolt is swiveled to the yoke so that the clamping member is permitted a universal movement. This clamping member is integrally formed and comprises a pair of parallel forks 10 connected at their inner ends, and an apertured projection 11. The yoke member 8 is pivotally secured to this projection by means of the fastener 12. The forks 10 taper toward their outer extremities, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and are provided upon their inner edges 18 with teeth 14.

A wire stretching hook 15 is secured between the forks 10 adjacent their inner ends by means of the pivot rod 16 and is adapted to swing between said forks. The hook is provided with an inwardly facing bill 17 which forms with the shank of said hook, an inwardly facing slot 18 in which the wire 19 to be stretched, may be secured.

In the operation of my improved wire stretcher, the wire 19 is first engaged with the walls of the slot 18 and then. stretched by swinging the lever 1 about the post 1 as a pivot. As a strain is placed upon the wire, the hook 15 tends to swing between the forks 10 and thus forces the wire into engagement with the teeth 14 of the clamping member. It will be seen that this construction provides a very reliable means for grasping the wire and is much more efficient than would be the case if the hook alone were used.

It is to be understood that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to this exact construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, but may make such changes as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as for instance, constructing the stretcher so as to adapt the same for use with woven wire fences.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a wire stretcher, a forked clamping member, and a wire engaging hook pivotally secured between the forks of the clamping member and formed with an inwardly facing Wedge slot to receive a Wire, said hook by the clamping member may be secured to being adapted to swing between forks of a handle member. 7 10 the clamping member. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature 2. In a wire stretcher, a forked clamping in presence of two Witnesses. member having serrated edges, a hook piv- ROBERT A. LYERLA. oted at one end between the forks of the Witnesses: clamping member and formed with an in- BEN. T. WILLIAMS, wardly facing Wedge slot, and means Where- I HENRY H. BATSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

